4th Utility is a full fibre broadband provider that began by serving apartment blocks and new-build developments. It now also offers broadband through several wholesale networks, although availability still depends on the premises.
4th Utility broadband is available over its own full fibre network and through CityFibre, Openreach, Community Fibre, Trooli and Freedom Fibre, depending on location.
- Every connection is full fibre straight into the home (FTTP), with no old copper lines involved.
- Many 4th Utility packages on its own infrastructure and selected wholesale networks offer symmetrical download and upload speeds, but Openreach-based plans come with lower upload speeds
- Broadband speeds range from basic 30Mbps plans to 2.3Gbps in select CityFibre areas.
- 4th Utility offers flexible contract lengths, with 1-month, 12-month and 24-month options.
- Entry-level deals include lower introductory prices, but the amount and later monthly cost vary by plan.
- Gigabit packages can offer a low introductory price, but total contract costs should be compared with current deals from larger providers.
4th Utility Broadband Plans and Speeds
- Social tariff: 30Mbps
- Entry-level full fibre: 30–100Mbps
- Additional full fibre options: 150Mbps, 200Mbps and 300Mbps
- Mid-range: 250Mbps
- Faster: 500Mbps
- Gigabit full fibre: 900–1000Mbps
- Multi-gigabit: 2.3Gbps in selected areas
These packages come with both symmetrical and asymmetrical speeds depending on location. Current Openreach-based variants include 150/20Mbps, 200/30Mbps, 300/49Mbps, 500/70Mbps and 900/110Mbps. Symmetrical versions of several plans are available through other networks.
Offer: Introductory prices vary by plan
| Plan | Avg Speed | Monthly Price |
|---|---|---|
| 150Mbps Full Fibre (24 months) | 150Mbps | £16 |
| 300Mbps Full Fibre (24 months) | 300Mbps | £20 |
| 500Mbps Full Fibre (24 months) | 500Mbps | £29 |
| 900Mbps Full Fibre (24 months) | 900Mbps | £22 |
Below is a breakdown of each plan type in the range:
Social Tariff – 30Mbps
The social tariff is available for households receiving benefits such as Universal Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, or Pension Credit. It includes:
- 30Mbps download and fully 30Mbps upload speed
- Rolling 30-day contract
- Monthly cost: From £13.99
- No standard credit check, and in eligible buildings you usually won’t need to provide supporting documents.
This plan is suitable for smaller households that mainly stream in HD, browse the web, use social media, handle schoolwork, or join regular video calls. The 30Mbps package is lower than 4th Utility’s main plans but remains far better than older ADSL connections.
Full Fibre 30–100Mbps
The lower end of the standard package range includes 30Mbps and 100Mbps options.
- 30Mbps is suited to light usage, such as browsing, HD streaming and basic home-working tasks.
- A 100 Mbps connection easily supports multiple HD streams and large game or app downloads without noticeable lag.
These entry-level plans usually start at around £16 per month during the initial offer period, increasing to around £28–£30 once the introductory term ends.
Full Fibre 250Mbps
A symmetrical 250Mbps plan is quick enough for:
- Streaming in 4K on a few devices at the same time
- Downloading large games and backing up files to the cloud
- Two people working from home with regular video calls and file sharing
Deals for this speed usually land in the low £20s once offers kick in. It’s a solid middle ground — faster than 100Mbps, but not as full-on as 500Mbps.e.
Full Fibre 500Mbps
This is the package where 4th Utility suits heavier usage, including homes using several 4K streams, large downloads and video calls. A symmetrical 500Mbps speed is available through selected networks and is suitable if you:
- Have multiple people streaming in 4K or gaming at the same time
- Regularly download large PC or console titles
- Upload large media files to cloud storage or collaboration platforms
The introductory price is lower than some major-provider deals, but later monthly prices, rewards and annual increases affect the total contract cost.
Gigabit Full Fibre – 900–1000Mbps
4th Utility’s gigabit plans offer 900Mbps or 1Gbps speeds, with symmetrical uploads and downloads available in CityFibre-connected locations. You’ll get the best performance using a wired Ethernet connection or a high-spec Wi-Fi setup.
These plans are suitable for:
- busy households where lots of people are streaming, gaming, or downloading at the same time.
- Also ideal for anyone working with large design files or video content, or running smart home setups and personal servers that need fast uploads.
Gigabit packages from 4th Utility are usually cheaper than some 500Mbps plans from BT or Sky when compared on a similar contract length.
Multi-Gigabit 2.3Gbps
In selected CityFibre areas, 4th Utility also offers a 2.3Gbps package which is:
- Ideal for very busy homes with several people gaming, streaming, or downloading at once
- Enough bandwidth for future tech, 8K streaming, or new connected devices
- Upload speeds are fast enough for heavy tasks like cloud backups of large project files or server data
Real-world speeds depend on your setup. The default router won’t hit 2.3Gbps wirelessly, and many laptops and consoles max out at 1Gbps over Ethernet. You’ll need multi-gig hardware to fully benefit from this level of speed.
Router
4th Utility offers the Icotera i4850-25 router to new customers. It is a dual-band Wi-Fi 5 router with four gigabit Ethernet ports. Each port is capable of up to 1Gbps for a wired device.
Some users on forums have raised concerns about missing features such as guest Wi-Fi. Advanced home-networking users may prefer to use their own router or mesh system for better control or wider coverage.
If you want to use your own router, 4th Utility can supply a separate bridge device that converts the fibre input to Ethernet. This allows you to attach your own Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 system behind it. For power users, this is usually the cleanest method: leave the provider’s optical equipment at the wall and handle routing and Wi-Fi with your own gear.
Customer Service
4th Utility is not included in Ofcom’s quarterly provider tables, which cover major providers with more than 1.5% share. Trustpilot displayed an “Excellent” rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 11,310 reviews when checked on 28 August 2026. Its profile has been combined with one or more related Trustpilot profiles, which partly explains the large increase in review numbers.
Some users mention slow responses at busy times and problems with IP settings. Full fibre avoids many faults associated with old copper lines, but busy-period speeds and latency still vary by network load, the broadband connection, Wi-Fi setup and router placement.
- Customer service and technical support: 0333 888 4050
- New-customer sales: 0800 066 2833
- Email: customer.support@4thu.co.uk
- Live chat and WhatsApp
- Postal address: Floor 7, Station House, Stamford New Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 1EP
Installation
4th Utility is not available nationwide. Like other alt-nets such as Hyperoptic and Community Fibre, it targets specific buildings where it either installs its own fibre or works with CityFibre.
If the building is already connected, an engineer will bring the fibre line into your home and install both the ONT and router. CityFibre-led installs usually take 2–3 hours and require someone to be at home.
If your building is already wired for 4th Utility or CityFibre and an ONT is installed, you’ll usually receive a self-install kit with a router and simple instructions. New installs or conversions from copper will still need an engineer visit.
How 4th Utility Compares With Other Providers
BT and Sky
BT and Sky both use the Openreach network and offer part-fibre and full fibre broadband. BT’s fastest current part-fibre package offers an average 74Mbps speed, while Sky Superfast offers an average 67Mbps speed. Speeds of 150Mbps and above use full fibre. BT and Sky also offer TV and mobile bundles, while 4th Utility offers an optional Digital Voice home phone service with broadband.
However:
- Pricing at 500Mbps and 900Mbps is often higher with BT and Sky
- Upload speeds are usually lower than download speeds
- Contract structures tend to be less flexible
4th Utility offers symmetrical speeds through selected networks, while Openreach-based options have lower upload speeds. It can offer good value when a current deal has a lower total contract cost at your premises. BT and Sky remain better choices for wider national availability and TV bundles.
Virgin Media
Virgin Media uses its cable network alongside its newer full fibre build and reaches more than half of UK homes. Gig1 offers an average 1.1Gbps download speed across most of the network, while Gig2 offers 2Gbps in a limited number of areas. Gig2 includes a standard 200Mbps upload speed and can be upgraded to symmetrical 2Gbps in eligible full fibre areas.
Compared with Virgin Media:
- 4th Utility offers symmetrical speeds (in selected areas), which are much better for gaming, creative work, remote backups, and any task relying on upload
- Virgin Media has wider coverage and offers broadband with TV and mobile bundles
- Trustpilot displayed 4th Utility at 4.5 out of 5 and Virgin Media at 1.6 out of 5 when checked on 28 August 2026
If you want the fastest possible upload and a simple broadband-only service, 4th Utility has the advantage. If you want an all-in-one TV and broadband package, Virgin Media may be more suitable.
Hyperoptic and Community Fibre
Hyperoptic and Community Fibre are the closest competitors to 4th Utility because all three follow a similar model: own-network full fibre, symmetrical speeds, and a focus on multi-dwelling buildings.
- Hyperoptic: Its network passes two million homes and businesses across 64 UK towns and cities. Its principal current packages offer average 158Mbps, 522Mbps and 900Mbps speeds, with other options depending on the premises.
- Community Fibre: Offers residential full fibre broadband in London, with wired download and upload speeds of up to 5Gbps. Availability depends on the premises.
- 4th Utility: Has smaller coverage, with speed plans up to 2.3Gbps and flexible 30-day rolling agreements in specific buildings.
In buildings served by multiple alt-nets, the deciding factors are usually price, router quality, and contract terms rather than speed alone.
Is 4th Utility broadband any good?
4th Utility is well suited to:
- Residents in apartment blocks or new-build developments that already have fibre installed
- Households that benefit from symmetrical speeds — such as remote workers, gamers, students, and anyone who uploads large files
- Users who want flexible 30-day rolling contracts when available in their building
- Gigabit customers who find a lower total contract cost through the deal available at their premises
It may be less suitable if you:
- Need broadband that will follow you when you move home — Openreach-based providers offer wider geographic flexibility
- Want bundled TV, mobile and landline packages in one place
- Prefer Wi-Fi 7 hardware included as standard
Conclusion
4th Utility offers full fibre broadband through its own infrastructure and several wholesale networks. Packages range from a £13.99 social tariff at 30Mbps through to multi-gigabit 2.3Gbps plans in selected CityFibre areas. Symmetrical speeds are available on selected networks, while Openreach-based plans have lower upload speeds.
Availability remains postcode-dependent, and new 12- and 24-month agreements increase by £4 each March. Some older contracts taken from May 2024 can still have a £3 March increase. Compare the total contract cost, upload speed and network available at the premises before choosing a deal.